The story tells of a yellow bird named Bobo that has plagued the Tutwiler family for generations. In the current generation, Alma, a preacher's daughter, has changed after an encounter in church. Once a quiet, obedient girl, Alma has taken up smoking in her father's house against his orders. Adding to her rebellion, she dyes her hair and goes out to bars staying out all night. Eventually, Alma runs off and settles in New Orleans. She has a child who proves to be just as rebellious as her. Her son goes off to sea and while he is gone, Alma dies. When he comes back, he puts up a monument in his mother's honor. The monument has been named Bobo, the name of the small yellow bird that left the Tutwiler family in
Analysis
By asking a series of questions concerning the structure of the work, can we construct its true meaning:
What is the relationship of the text to the title?
The title of the piece refers to the bird that plagues a family with quasi- evil intention, yielding a formerly shy girl to become unruly and even become pregnant with a question of who the father is.
Words to be defined throughout text:
Interlocutor; rectory; perdition; “juking”; profligate; “The Home for Reckless Spenders”; machinations.
Etymological words:
Increase; Tutwiler; Alma
Patterns or relationship between the words of the text:
There is an obvious pattern throughout the text of words pertaining to or of origin of witchcraft, sin, and unholy living.
Connotative meanings? Do these meanings establish relationships furthermore?
The words "peroxide" and "lipstick" can be connotative for a changing of the times. This event, when Alma colors her hair, is very significant as it reveals some of the meaning of the text. Her rebellious behavior is a signal that a revolution is occurring and youth will not be so conservative and obedient any more. The yellow bird, Bobo, is a symbol for revolution, and the fact that the elders see it as evil because the behavior it causes just supports the theory that elders think the Hippie movement, for example, is evil because it involves “free love”, but it is really just political liberalism.
Allusions? How does the allusion elucidate some meaning of the text?
The title and the symbol of the bird, Bobo, throughout the short story can be alluded to Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Not only is the subject matter reminiscent of the play, but the symbol of yellow bird is illustrative of the devil attacking Abigail. Alma comes in contact with Bobo, changes her behavior from reserved to daring and thus lies the allusion; the devil's influence.
Elements of prosody
Tone
Tone is the most interesting part of the entire work, as is point of view. A sly drollness dominates the tones of the descriptive passages, as if the author’s voice that is leaking through is mildly amused at the stress and disobedience occurring.
Point of View
The third person omniscient point of view proves an interesting choice because it plays so much into tone. It forces the reader to become deeply involved in the story as we (the readers) would like to know how all this secretive family information is known.
Tennessee Williams' "The Yellow Bird"
Summary
The story tells of a yellow bird named Bobo that has plagued the Tutwiler family for generations. In the current generation, Alma, a preacher's daughter, has changed after an encounter in church. Once a quiet, obedient girl, Alma has taken up smoking in her father's house against his orders. Adding to her rebellion, she dyes her hair and goes out to bars staying out all night. Eventually, Alma runs off and settles in New Orleans. She has a child who proves to be just as rebellious as her. Her son goes off to sea and while he is gone, Alma dies. When he comes back, he puts up a monument in his mother's honor. The monument has been named Bobo, the name of the small yellow bird that left the Tutwiler family in
Analysis
By asking a series of questions concerning the structure of the work, can we construct its true meaning:
What is the relationship of the text to the title?
The title of the piece refers to the bird that plagues a family with quasi- evil intention, yielding a formerly shy girl to become unruly and even become pregnant with a question of who the father is.
Words to be defined throughout text:
Interlocutor; rectory; perdition; “juking”; profligate; “The Home for Reckless Spenders”; machinations.
Etymological words:
Increase; Tutwiler; Alma
Patterns or relationship between the words of the text:
There is an obvious pattern throughout the text of words pertaining to or of origin of witchcraft, sin, and unholy living.
Connotative meanings? Do these meanings establish relationships furthermore?
The words "peroxide" and "lipstick" can be connotative for a changing of the times. This event, when Alma colors her hair, is very significant as it reveals some of the meaning of the text. Her rebellious behavior is a signal that a revolution is occurring and youth will not be so conservative and obedient any more. The yellow bird, Bobo, is a symbol for revolution, and the fact that the elders see it as evil because the behavior it causes just supports the theory that elders think the Hippie movement, for example, is evil because it involves “free love”, but it is really just political liberalism.
Allusions? How does the allusion elucidate some meaning of the text?
The title and the symbol of the bird, Bobo, throughout the short story can be alluded to Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Not only is the subject matter reminiscent of the play, but the symbol of yellow bird is illustrative of the devil attacking Abigail. Alma comes in contact with Bobo, changes her behavior from reserved to daring and thus lies the allusion; the devil's influence.
Elements of prosody
Tone
Tone is the most interesting part of the entire work, as is point of view. A sly drollness dominates the tones of the descriptive passages, as if the author’s voice that is leaking through is mildly amused at the stress and disobedience occurring.
Point of View
The third person omniscient point of view proves an interesting choice because it plays so much into tone. It forces the reader to become deeply involved in the story as we (the readers) would like to know how all this secretive family information is known.
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